Kghting, carpentry and general construction work on a private estate, 
I believe you are all ready to admit that such a man merits a good 
salary, a much better one than he in the majority of instances receives 
today. 
The serious question confronting us today' is: Where are the 
gardeners of the future to come from? All advices from abroad in- 
dicate that the great estates as a result of the war are employing far 
fewer men, also that few youths are entering the profession owing to 
superior financial inducements in other industries. Personally, I have 
tried young agricultural coUege men and high-school boys, but it 
has proved rather discouraging work. Boys were helpful the past two 
or three years but alas! they who have seen the cities think gardening 
is prosaic, dull and uninteresting. "A back to the land" movement is 
necessary and is bound to come sooner or later, and if the professional 
gardeners, the National Association of Gardeners, and your .esteemed 
Garden Clubs co-operate, you will surely find some solution. 
Horticulture has made good advances here of late years, and for 
the tired city man, manufacturer or merchant what is there in the 
world so fascinating, satisfying and stimulating as gardening? Shake- 
speare well said, "This is an art that doth mend Nature, change it 
rather, but the art itself is Nature." What joy there is to see the 
first snowdrops, crocus, scillas or Christmas roses unfold their flowers 
as the sun melts the last hngering snow covering them! What de- 
Kghts are ours as the procession of floral beauties unfold themselves 
before our eyes through Spring, Summer and Autumn until even 
when "chill November's surly blasts make fields and forests bare" 
there are still in sheltered spots Japanese Anenomes and Pompon- 
Chrysanthemums, Dianthus, Pansies, Roses and other hardy subjects 
with a secondary crop of flowers or some deciduous shrubs to cheer 
our hearts and the added assurance that even though snow and ice 
may bury our beloved plants, they will grow, bloom and cheer us 
again in God's good season. 
In this way do I look upon gardening as do many of my fellow 
gardeners and I feel positive that the nearer we all get to Nature the 
richer our lives will be and the better you mil appreciate the true 
worth of the professional gardener. I hope I have not wearied you. 
I have spoken plainly just as my heart feels. If I have seemed some- 
what pessimistic I am still a thorough optimist and hope I have given 
you a httle insight into the drawbacks, discouragements, hopes and 
aspirations of the oldest, most honorable and most elevating of all 
calhngs, that of the true gardener. 
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